Heroic police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting and serving their communities were remembered at today’s National Police Memorial Day service.
The annual event, honouring officers who have died or been killed in the line of duty, was attended by police officials and bereaved families from all over the country who gathered at Lincoln Cathedral at 2pm to pay tribute to fallen comrades and loved ones.
Among those present were Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford, Nottinghamshire Police Federation Chairman Mark Petrovic, Tracy Walker, the widow of Nottinghamshire Police dog handler PC Ged Walker who was killed in service after his brave efforts to stop a stolen taxi in Bulwell on 9 January 2003, and the mother of PC Christopher McDonald, Joan, and her husband John.
PC McDonald was Nottinghamshire’s first officer to lose his life in the line of duty. He was 19-years-old when he was killed after responding to a burglary in Worksop on 17 May 1978.
National Police Memorial Day, which was founded in 2004, aims to remember police officers who have been killed or died on duty, demonstrate to relatives, friends and colleagues of fallen officers that their sacrifices are not forgotten and recognise annually the dedication to duty and courage displayed by police officers on a daily basis.
Each year the service is held in one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. The congregation comprises of the families, friends and colleagues of deceased officers, Chief Constables or their representatives of each UK police force together with national and local political and civic leaders.
The service is held each year on the nearest Sunday to St Michael’s Day, the patron saint of police.
Last year’s National Police Memorial Day service had to be held virtually due to the Coronavirus pandemic and due to covid restrictions attendance at today’s event in the cathedral was limited and by invitation only.
Since 1749, almost 5,000 police officers and staff have died while policing our communities, over 1,500 through acts of violence.
Mr Guildford said: “It’s important that events like National Police Memorial Day are marked to pay our heartfelt respects to fallen colleagues and those across the policing service – both in Nottinghamshire and across the country – and that we still come together across the nation and remember our fallen colleagues despite the restrictions.
“These heroic officers gave their lives to protect and serve the public and today was an opportunity to recognise their dedication and bravery in the line of duty. They will never be forgotten.”
Mr Petrovic added: “It was a fantastic event and a very good tribute. I was really pleased Home Secretary Priti Patel turned up as a mark of respect for policing in general and it was a real honour to attend the service.”
At Nottinghamshire Police’s headquarters the sacrifices made by PC Ged Walker and PC Christopher McDonald and other officers as well as colleagues from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service who have lost their lives serving the public are remembered in the form of a joint memorial garden which was formally unveiled at a ceremony in October last year.
The garden is an integral part of the new joint police and fire headquarters being built at Sherwood Lodge. It features two memorial stones and a memorial wall containing the names of all the people from both organisations who have died in public service – with entries dating all the way back to the 19th century.
People can view a 20-minute video showing parts of this service as well as finding more information by visiting the National Police Memorial Day website. Visit https://www.nationalpolicememorialday.org
A tribute wall is available on the website for family, friends and colleagues to post messages in memory of loved ones and fallen colleagues.
TRIBUTES: Pictured outside the cathedral, from left, are PC Christopher McDonald’s mother Joan Hufton, her husband, John, and Tracy Walker, widow of Nottinghamshire Police dog handler PC Ged Walker
